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Straightaways
 
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Straightaways

Son VoltAudio CD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)

Price: $17.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
MP3 Download, 10 Songs, 2008 $9.90  
Audio CD, 1997 $17.99  
Vinyl, 1997 --  
Audio Cassette, 1997 --  

Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Samples
Song Title Time Price
listen  1. Caryatid Easy (Album Version) 4:43$0.99 Buy Track
listen  2. Back Into Your World (Album Version) 3:45$0.99 Buy Track
listen  3. Picking Up The Signal (Album Version) 3:45$0.99 Buy Track
listen  4. Left A Slide (Album Version) 5:10$0.99 Buy Track
listen  5. Creosote (Album Version) 4:12$0.99 Buy Track
listen  6. Cemetery Savior (Album Version) 3:12$0.99 Buy Track
listen  7. Last Minute Shakedown (Album Version) 4:03$0.99 Buy Track
listen  8. Been Set Free (Album Version) 4:33$0.99 Buy Track
listen  9. No More Parades (Album Version) 3:19$0.99 Buy Track
listen10. Way Down Watson (Album Version) 3:42$0.99 Buy Track


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Biography

After alt-country pioneers Uncle Tupelo broke up in 1994, founding singer-songwriters Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar formed different bands: Tweedy formed Wilco and Farrar formed Son Volt. Their debut album Trace was critically acclaimed and assured Uncle Tupelo fans that the magic had carried over to Son Volt. Subsequent albums, such as Straightaways (1997) and Wide Swing Tremolo (1998) were not… Read more in Amazon's Son Volt Store

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Frequently Bought Together

Straightaways + Trace + American Central Dust
Price For All Three: $38.42

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  • In Stock.
    Sold by fastfriendlyservice and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Trace $10.44

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • American Central Dust $9.99

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    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
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Product Details

  • Audio CD (April 22, 1997)
  • Original Release Date: April 22, 1997
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: Warner Bros / Wea
  • ASIN: B000002NDU
  • Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,187 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

 

Customer Reviews

35 Reviews
5 star:
 (19)
4 star:
 (10)
3 star:
 (5)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (35 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Trace, March 22, 2005
By 
This review is from: Straightaways (Audio CD)
I played this record nearly every morning in the summer of 1997 and can attest that (like most great records) if you give it several good listens it will capture you. I have both this one and Trace and strongly prefer Straightaways for several reasons: superior melodies, better playing (acoustic work is tastier), better vocals, more interesting lyrical themes, a better rocker (Caryatid Easy is surely one of the hardest rocking alt-country song of all time), and greater emotional depth.

Like many alt-country records, this one is about missed chances, lost love, loneliness, alienation, and wounded men yearning to recover. There isn't an obvious radio hit like 'Windfall' from Trace, but these songs are a little more earnest, in my view, and they're also a little better written. Many have disagreed in the previous reviews here, but I'm sticking to my guns: I almost never pull out Trace, but I've revisited Straightaways nearly every year since I bought it, and I haven't yet stopped enjoying it. I should clarify that I'm not really arguing against Trace, which is also a great record and a must-have if you're an Uncle Tupelo or Jay Farrar (or alt-country) fan, but I think this one is also a must-have, and I think it's a better record than Trace.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Not-surprisingly underrated masterpiece of American rock, April 21, 2004
By 
This review is from: Straightaways (Audio CD)
It adds up that the monster debut "Trace" by Son Volt (with a bona-fide hit single) would shade future releases, no matter how earnest and eclectic and far-reachingly successful in extending that initial vision. But the fact remains that many of the "Straightaways" songs were performed by Son Volt on their initial tour (which dilutes the critique of the songwriting as sub-par), and many of them were written on the road (which encapsulates the Son Volt vision rather explicitly, being that they are sort of road-weary travelogue types anyway). In other words, I'd give the nod to country music performed by non-urbanites, and this album likewise shimmers with self-confidence and cheer.

Highlights: the riff to "Picking Up the Signal"; the opening vocal of "Caryatid Easy"; the low-down slidy pedal steel whine about 10 seconds into "Left a Slide"; you know, the typical Son Volt stuff (I sure miss it). This band had a handle on something that many emulated but few could equal, and I consider this the second volume of a darned good trilogy, and a masterpiece of stately music in its own right.

Fact: while performing the tour for this album throughout the Southern United States, Son Volt deliberately slowed the songs down to a crawl, the tempo as languid as those summer nights themselves. A great album from a very vibrant and exciting band.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Only a short-term disappointment!, January 8, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Straightaways (Audio CD)
For those who were disappointed in "Straightaways" -- at first, I was, too. Fortunately, the Jayhawks outstanding "Sound of Lies" was released the same day. I bought both and taped them back-to-back. I must admit that only sheer laziness kept me listening to "Straightaways" through to keep getting back to "SOL." Funny thing -- after 20 or so listens, it all fell into place. Songs that seemed to go nowhere at first listen were now complete and compelling. Songs like "Left a Slide," which had filled me with frustration for seeming to fall so short of their potential now seem perfect. My advice -- invest the time, listen some more. You'll be glad you did.
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Straightaways is Son Volt's second studio release.
Jay Farrar, Brad Rice, Eric Heywood, Mike Heidorn, and Jim Boquisthave been a member of Son Volt.

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